A bout of Arctic air is set to bring frigid temperatures to the Lower Hudson Valley region Thursday, Dec. 4 and Friday, Dec. 5.
With temperatures set to plummet to the mid-teens (even lower with wind chill) Thursday night, there’s more risk than ever for cold weather emergencies such as frostbite or hypothermia. For the most vulnerable, including the unhoused, that risk is tenfold.
Read on for a list of warming shelters that provide essential resources and safety from winter’s bitter cold.
Where are warming shelters in the Lower Hudson Valley?
Warming shelters in Westchester
Peekskill area
White Plains area
Warming shelters in Rockland County
Rockland County Warming Center: Open from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. during the season. Will open during the day if temperatures (with windchill) are below 32 degrees. Located in the Dr. Robert L. Yeager Health Center, 50 Sanatorium Rd Building T, Pomona, call 845-364-2332 during center hours or Department of Social Services at 845-608-6670.
Transportation to the center is provided at the following locations, the Rockland County government website says:
Warming shelters in Putnam County
What are frostbite symptoms?
According to the American Red Cross, frostbite occurs when a body part, such as your fingers, toes or nose, starts to freeze.
Symptoms of frostbite include:
To prevent frostbite, take the following precautions:
What to do if someone has frostbite
Here’s what to do if you suspect you or someone else has frostbite, according to the Red Cross:
What are hypothermia symptoms?
Hypothermia symptoms include shivering, numbness or weakness, a “glassy stare”, apathy or impaired judgement and loss of consciousness, the American Red Cross says.
According to the Westchester County Department of Health, there’s a risk of accidental hypothermia even indoors, with temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees.
“Warning signs of hypothermia in adults include shivering, confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, exhaustion and slurred speech,” the county’s website says. “Infants with hypothermia may appear to have very low energy and bright red, cold skin.”
Here are some tips to prevent hypothermia, from Westchester County and the New York State Department of Health:
What to do if someone has hypothermia
First, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number, the American Red Cross website says.
Next, gently move the person to a warm place, and monitor their breathing and circulation. Give rescue breathing or CPR if necessary. Remove any wet clothing and dry the person off.
Warm the person, slowly. You can do so by wrapping them in blankets or changing them into dry clothing.
“Hot water bottles and chemical hot packs may be used when first wrapped in a towel or blanket before applying,” The Red Cross says. “Do not warm the person too quickly, such as by immersing him or her in warm water,” and warm them at their core (abdominal area) first, not their extremities such as hands and feet.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: See locations for cold weather shelters in Lower Hudson Valley
Reporting by Ashley Catherine Fontones, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
